Chosen By Christ: A Reflection On The Gospel For 3rd Sunday In Ordinary Time (Cycle B), By Fr. Michael Barrow, SJ

I don't think Jesus would have taken to Twitter, where the aim seems to be to get as many "likes" as you can. Jesus made it clear to his disciples, "You did not choose me – I chose you." That explains why people found that, unlike others, Jesus spoke with authority. The rabbis and other religious leaders did not choose their disciples; if they had followers, it was because people chose them, as on Twitter. Jesus' choice was deliberate and St Luke tells us that before selecting his twelve apostles he spent a night in prayer.

He chooses us not because of what we have to offer but because he wants us.His choosing us is beautifully expressed in Deuteronomy 7, "It was not because you were greater than any other people that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you, for you were the least of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you." Jesus chooses his disciples because he loves them.

Being called by Jesus means first of all to be with him, growing always closer to him.The expression used in the gospels is that they "followed" him and Jesus himself used that expression, but in practice it became clear that he was asking them to be with him. Following Jesus means to be with him, to be his friend, to love him and be loved by him.

Being called by Christ and responding to his call is not a single event but throughout your life growing in love of Christ, being with Christ and staying with Christ, and always running back to him when you've messed things up.